Crest Cafe's commemorative outdoor mural is now complete

SAN DIEGO -- The new mural that has been appearing on an empty outdoor wall at Hillcrest's Crest Cafe has been completed, says Cecelia Moreno, the restaurant's owner.

In a story by SDGLN media partner Gay San Diego, Moreno said that she commissioned the mural in celebration of Crest Cafe's upcoming 30th anniversary, and targeted the completion to be in time for this weekend's San Diego LGBT Pride celebrations.

The mural, which includes the image of a large purple and pink circus elephant walking through a colorful forested area, includes a painting of some of the cafe's customers and animal friends.

Moreno held a contest and three lucky customers, Anne Fitzgerald, Bill Streshly and Krystina Castillo, are pictured on the mural, along with two dogs, Max and Moreno's pet Ranger.

The owner says she plans to hold an annual contest in which a lucky customer will have the chance to be added to the mural. Details of these annual contests will be posted as they come.

Cody Griffith, who designed and painted the mural, explains the look and feel of the project:

“We wanted something iconic for the Cafe and the community. We wanted to go with whimsical colors, have a whimsical theme and play on the exaggeration of size."

Moreno said she is pleased to bring the art mural to a once blank alley wall in Hillcrest. She said the process was very easy, only needing a quick approval of her landlord, followed by a call for muralists on Craigslist, which led her to Griffith.

“The mural will be a permanent art installation for the community, to commemorate our 30th year in business in Hillcrest,” Moreno said.

Within a month, Moreno plans to include lighting that will make the mural visible at night.

More information about Crest Cafe is available online. To learn more about Griffith's work click HERE.